One of my most anticipated games of 2018 is undoubtedly Red Dead Redemption 2. The first entry captivated me for months (despite my aversion to open-world games), so I'm super excited to see what Rockstar has in store for fans next. Though the game's launch isn't until October, Rockstar treated us today to the first of a series of trailers showcasing Red Dead Redemption 2's gameplay.

The year is 1899. The outlaws' rule of the wild west is coming to an end. Technology is just starting to flourish. Red Dead Redemption 2 gives you control of Arthur Morgan, an outlaw with the Van der Linde gang, as he fights for his survival. After a robbery gone wrong, Morgan and his gang are on the run from the law and bounty hunters alike. But external forces aren't the only concerns for Morgan. Internal struggles threaten to tear apart the Van der Linde gang, forcing Morgan to choose between himself and his family. This struggle lies at the heart of much of the gameplay of Red Dead Redemption 2.

New to the franchise is the camp system. Between towns, the gang will set up camp. During these periods, you can spend time conversing with your fellow outlaws, doing chores, and playing games. Each of these activities can be worth your while. Getting to know your gang can lead to new opportunities and secrets. Obtaining food and supplies for the camp helps keep morale high, but it has yet to be revealed what this affects. Playing games can help you win money.

Rockstar is hoping to create a living world with Red Dead Redemption 2 and they've introduced some mechanics to help demonstrate this. The morality system from the first game makes a return but in an expanded form. You can call out to passing riders or talk yourself into or out of trouble. You have control over how honorable you want to play, but remember actions have consequences. Relationships will be affected by how you react to things. Situations can either escalate or defuse themselves. This system extends itself to your horse as well. Treating your animal well will pay off in dangerous situations.

In addition to being a trusty form of transportation, your horse also acts as extra inventory space, allowing you to store extra weapons or animal pelts from your hunting excursions in its saddle. These pelts and carcasses can then be sold to stores to earn some extra cash or taken back to camp to use as food. Wounded animals will run away, though, so be ready to track it down if you can't finish the job quickly.

The fighting and shooting have been improved to create a richer combat experience. Each weapon has unique characteristics and realistic reloading and recoil. Rockstar is really focusing on the details and creating depth with Red Dead Redemption 2, and it shows with this trailer (which was created with in-game footage). If this video piques your interest, there's at least one more gameplay video coming out sometime in the future, which will focus on missions, activities, robberies, and much more. And of course, if you want more, there's always the game itself.

Round up them dogies when Red Dead Redemption 2 launches for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 26th.